William Ricker wrote in message ...
The six little vortices form a perfect pentagon around the
center.

Er, wouldn't there be a hexagon, if there were six vortices?

No, see Roller-bearing idea ... one in center, and 5 around.

I just made some rough calculations about the windspeed in the eyewall
using the figure from the National Hurricane Center that the eye has a
diameter of 40 nautical miles and by estimation of the speed of the
rotation of features within the eye. I get 160 knots.

Allan